by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist explores Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Evaluate The Speaking, Language Interpretation, And Related Physiological And Cognitive Capabilities Of Children And/or Adults And Develop Treatment And Rehabilitative Solutions In Consultation With Clinicians And Educators. Includes Instruction In The Anatomy And Physiology Of Speech And Hearing, Biomechanics Of Swallowing And Vocal Articulation, Communications Disorders, Psychology Of Auditory Function And Cognitive Communication, Language Assessment And Diagnostic Techniques, And Rehabilitative And Management Therapies. Examples: [Speech Pathology], [Speech-Language Pathology]. Continue reading for the key facts every speech-language pathology/pathologist major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering speech-language pathology/pathologist programs.
Nationwide, speech-language pathology/pathologist is a widely-pursued major, with 7,213 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Schools ranking analyzes these 184 schools to determine the best overall colleges for speech-language pathology/pathologist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of speech-language pathology/pathologist programs later in this article.
Coursework for Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a speech-language pathology/pathologist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a speech-language pathology/pathologist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several speech-language pathology/pathologist degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 30 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,432 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,691 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 58 |
People currently working in careers related to speech-language pathology/pathologist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 49.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 18.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 14.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in speech-language pathology/pathologist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in speech-language pathology/pathologist prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to speech-language pathology/pathologist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to speech-language pathology/pathologist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | 430,857 | 4.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $53,106 |
| 4 years | $57,878 |
| 5 years | $63,177 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers speech-language pathology/pathologist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $47,305 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 184 different speech-language pathology/pathologist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased speech-language pathology/pathologist school rankings to help you.
Students interested in speech-language pathology/pathologist, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist | 7,724 |
| Communication Sciences and Disorders, General | 7,097 |
| Audiology/Audiologist | 988 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services, Other | 228 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
